Become an Owner of RED Mountain

RED Mountain is an Endangered Species within the ski resort world. We have the snowfall, vertical drop, world-class terrain and 4-season fun to go boot-to-boot with the Big Guys, but have consciously maintained our mom ’n’pop/weird uncle feel for over 100 years. We’re tired of seeing families priced out of a premier ski vacation by Mega Resorts. It’s time for a change…

RED Mountain’s preservation as a fiercely independent, non-corporate entity is beyond worthwhile and now you get to be apart of it: “Fight the Man. Own the Mountain.”

Through this campaign, we’re giving you the chance to actually own a piece of this place. That’s right –OWN: The mountain, the chairlifts, the lodge, condos, snow making, you name it. Every asset we’ve got, man. (Think of it as “Shred Equity”…)

This is your chance to actually be an owner of an extraordinary mountain that many consider a true sanctuary in a complex world. This is the investment opportunity of a lifetime — and it’s not just an opportunity for the 1-Percent.

We now live in the land of Mega Resort mergers and acquisitions, a world where the independent spirit of skiing is being peeled away, piece by piece, and traded for Starbucks outlets at the base, covered escalators to the lift line, and investment bankers’ hands in your pockets everywhere you turn.

Did you know close to 40 ski resorts are owned by just 3 corporations? Nearly 75% of those acquisitions happened in the last 14 years. And now most recently — potentially the biggest acquisition in the history of skiing — Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb August 8th for over $1 billion. It continues to happen and it won’t stop. We’re aiming to buck this trend. And for good reason.

If you live for skiing and snowboarding, you should know that every waterpark and golf course that gets built will be reflected in the price of your lift ticket — whether you’re “fore” it or not.

At RED we like to do things differently. Always have. Always will.We’re like the Green Bay Packers of the resort world – the NFL team owned by its community since 1923. And, just like The Pack, you could own a piece of us. When we say “us” we’re talking a resort that’s Top 20, size-wise, in North America; a resort coming off its best fiscal year yet; a resort that was listed by The New York Times as a “Top 10 Place to Go in the World”. Not bad for independent, eh?

But it’s not just about “stickin’ it” to the man. (That’s just the fun part…) It’s about acknowledging the importance of this lifestyle and culture that we all have grown to know and love from a young age and doing our part to keep it thriving. Times like these don’t come around too often… We’re making history here, folks!

As CEO Howard Katkov puts it, “Why not join us on this big mountain, big community, love-driven adventure… We’ll keep investing in this community and these fantastic people with or without your help, but dropping in on this could change your life—just like it changed mine.”

RED, Western Canada’s oldest ski resort, began its life as a community-owned entity when many of the skiers were crusty Scandinavian miners who whittled their 300cm skis out of lightning-struck trees. Now, through the power of the internet and the magic of equity crowdfunding, RED Mountain would like to reboot the community-owned SkiClub model—before it’s too late.

We know that you could invest your money in that biotech company trying to engineer sweeter children.Or that new app that puts your face on your favorite breed of dog.But by owning a piece of this mountain, what we’re offering is of an entirely different order. This is as analog as it gets:

Face shots. Crisp mountain air. Four generations of skiers and snowboarders racing down our storied slopes together and then fighting over a mountain of nachos at Rafters. Rosy cheeks. Full body smiles. Cold beer. Simple pleasures. And in a hectic world where everything moves too fast and all at once, you are acknowledging that this “back to the basics” simplicity is back to what really matters. A community of like-minded individuals and adventurists can be one of the most powerful forces ever. This is why we’re offeringyou the opportunity to join us. And own us.

See, RED Mountain is a Keystone Species in the larger ski resort world:

A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend,
such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

We’ve always chosen to do things differently—for over a century. While “they” focus on more “shopping opportunities,” we focus on the adventure and revel in the fact that we have Rossland, a real, historic, Gold Rush-era town at the bottom of the hill. They sell you a side of fries for $10 and we offer $10/run cat-skiing. It’s like this at every turn on RED. Surprise & Delight, yo.

This is serious. That’s why we claim Keystone Species. We believe that keeping a place like RED thriving betters the sport for everyone in a time where families that love this mountain lifestyle are getting priced out left and right. Skiing and snowboarding should never become elite sports like polo or Formula 1.

What we are offering here on StartEngine is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. We sincerely hope you’ll join us to “Fight the Man. Own the Mountain.” We’ve been at this for 12 years and could use your help at this juncture to stay fierce, independent, proud, and a little bit odd.

This campaign to raise money is to keep us stable moving forward, supported by those who love this sport and this way of life the most. To keep us out of harm’s way down the road when many other independent resorts have gone the way of the T-Rex in order to make ends meet. It’s about building and growing this community and this love for the sport.Think about it. Whether you’re in for “dimes or dollars” we’ll make it worth your while.

This “Test The Waters” stage allows parties to express interest in the investment without handing over any actual loot — now or later. (Imagine a hyper-convoluted “Like” Button that is 100% risk-free. Drop $1,000 or $10,000, no commitment necessary.) If Test the Waters gains sufficient traction from people like you, RED will will move on to the next round with offering actual equity in the company, unique tiered perks and rewards with each investment sure to appeal to ski and snowboard enthusiasts especially, and a $1,000 minimum buy-in, all fully regulated by the SEC and in accordance with Canadian securities laws.

Money raised in round 2 of this campaign will go toward improving the adventure here at RED. Think of this as investing in your own happiness, like a cold craft beer or getting your car detailed at the end of a long winter. Plans include remodeling the Paradise lodge; additional run development for expanded cat skiing on Mount Kirkup; building a new restaurant, clubhouse, and overnight on-mountain cabins at the top of Grey Mountain; and the extension of the Silverlode chair to allow access to both Granite Mountain and Grey Mountain. For spring and summer activities, we’ll be building a multi-use trail for hiking and mountain biking from the base area to the top of Grey Mountain connecting to the Seven Summits trail system. Your Investment will also be supporting the creation of an annual local academic Scholarship fund for higher education. You can be a part of all of this – and more importantly, an owner of all of this.

“We’re gonna be the Green Bay Packers of the ski world!” jokes Katkov. “And, just like The Pack or whichever underdog inspires you, we’re really looking to our hardcore fans to throw down here – we’re talking ownership after all. We’ll happily take the big bucks—bring it!—but we have intentionally set our minimum at a very low $1,000 to entice hardcore skiers and snowboarders who might not have a High Net Worth—even if some of them have the ‘high’ part on lockdown…”

When the “Test The Waters” stage gains sufficient traction and moves to the next level, your investment will come with bonus rewards to better enjoy the adventure, lifestyle, and culture that you’re helping preserve. (As if owning a slice of RED Mountain Resort isn’t enough!)

Take a look below:What we’re asking of the larger snow-sliding community is as straight-forward as pointing those planks downhill: Buy in now. And bow out of the side of skiing that is quickly becoming a pursuit for 1-percenters. Oh yeah, and more importantly – become an owner of a ski mountain!

GENERAL FAQ

If I say yes to a certain investment in the “Test the Waters” phase, am I obligated in any way or can I change my mind?
No, this phase it gauge interest and traction of an equity offering, and your “reservation” at this point is in no way an obligation – but helps us gauge whether we move to phase 2 or not.

If I decide to invest after “Test the Waters”, when will I get the opportunity to do so?
If it is determined that there is enough interest, we anticipate an offering will be made approximately 4 months after the “Test the Waters” phase has closed.

What happens if there isn’t enough interest in Test the Waters?
If there isn’t enough interest then we will not advance to Phase Two with an equity offering.

What are the Tiered Investment Rewards?
When the “Test the Waters” phase moves to the next level, your investment will come with bonus rewards to better enjoy the adventure, lifestyle, and culture that you’re helping preserve. There are 6 Tiers of investment rewards detailed above.

What is the membership clubhouse? What’s in it? Can I bring friends?
The clubhouse will be a small cozy space for members only at the top of Grey Mountain connected to the public restaurant. It will include a fireplace and a few different social gathering areas, and will have a bar with snacks. Yes, you can sign in a guest.

Is my information shared when I pledge in “Test the Waters”?
You will get updates from RED via StartEngine after you“reserve” your investment in the Test the Waters phase. No information will be shared publicly when you “reserve” your investment.

Located in Rossland, BC—the first stop along the famous “Powder Highway”—RED delivers 2,877 lift-serviced acres (4,200 total!) of pristine skiing unfettered by overdevelopment. With epic vertical (2,919 ft/890m!), in-bounds cat-skiing, wide-open groomers, 360-degree descents, a rich tradition, and—phew!—the BEST gladed tree runs in North America, this best-kept secret has been let out of the bag.

Get Lost Adventure Centre opens
to expand 4-season activity options and provide effortless access to incredible Kootenay community resources such as river guides, fishing outfitters, and fat bike rentals.

Legacy Training Centre opens
to preserve RED’s reputation as a breeding ground for kick-ass ski racers includingOlympians and National Team members.

Revitalization of historic downtown Rossland,
a Gold Rush town with stately stone buildings and a lively main street.

Big bronze statue of Olaus Jeldness,
the godfather of skiing in Rossland, installed, promptly pooped on by pigeons.

Renovated 1948 base lodge with a sustainable approach
that maintained original beams from the 1860s and iconic red lockers that the community had come to love.

Changed out urinal pucks.

Howard Katkov and partners form RED Mountain Ventures and purchase the resort from the first owners outside the original community Ski Club.

Between 2004 and 2016, RMV has put their focus toward sustainability and preservation by enhancing the experience and the adventure and investing in modernized infrastructure, renovated lodging, new housing, installing new lifts, expanding terrain, adding snowmaking, and more.

We believe that a day on the mountain is always better than a day on your phone.

We believe that kids who grow up shredding naturally become free thinkers, risk takers, lifelong outdoor enthusiasts, and perhaps the kind of smack-talking bon vivants the world needs more of.

We believe that skiing and snowboarding are “lifestyles” rather than “sports” because they change lives. RED Mountain owes its very existence to this passion and has run on it for over a century.

We believe, as entrepreneurs, that skiing has taught us how to make the most of what the day gives you, how to trust our instincts, and how to value what we have instead of constantly lusting after more.

We want families priced out by corporate resorts to rediscover the simple joys of snow, gravity, and fresh air without having to sell a kidney in the process.

And, yeah, we kind of want to stick it to the corporate ski resorts.
They don’t own skiing and snowboarding. YOU do.

Youthful & Fun: An ageless desire to embrace and enjoy life in a lighthearted way.

Simplicity: A relaxed lifestyle; freedom from complexity.

Quality: Meet or exceed expectations on all levels.

PHOTO CREDITS: RYAN FLETT

THE COMPANY IS “TESTING THE WATERS” UNDER REGULATION A UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE COMPANY IS ALSO CANVASSING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS IN CANADA. THIS PROCESS ALLOWS COMPANIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE MAY BE INTEREST IN AN EVENTUAL OFFERING OF ITS SECURITIES. THE COMPANY IS NOT UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO MAKE AN OFFERING UNDER REGULATION A OR IN CANADA. IT MAY CHOOSE TO MAKE AN OFFERING TO SOME, BUT NOT ALL, OF THE PEOPLE WHO INDICATE AN INTEREST IN INVESTING, AND THAT OFFERING MIGHT NOT BE MADE UNDER REGULATION A BUT, IN ANY EVENT, THE OFFERING WILL BE MADE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS IN CANADA. IF THE COMPANY DOES GO AHEAD WITH AN OFFERING UNDER REGULATION A, IT WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO MAKE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER IT HAS FILED AN OFFERING STATEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) AND THE SEC HAS “QUALIFIED” THE OFFERING STATEMENT. IN ADDITION, NO OFFERING OF SECURITIES WILL BE MADE UNTIL A CANADIAN OFFERING MEMORANDUM HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS. THE INFORMATION IN THE U.S. OFFERING STATEMENT AND THE CANADIAN OFFERING MEMORANDUM WILL BE MORE COMPLETE THAN THE INFORMATION THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING NOW, AND COULD DIFFER IN IMPORTANT WAYS. U.S RESIDENTS MUST READ THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BEFORE INVESTING AND ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS MUST READ THE CANADIAN OFFERING MEMORANDUM BEFORE INVESTING.

NO OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES CAN BE ACCEPTED AND NO PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE CAN BE RECEIVED IN THE UNITED STATES UNTIL THE OFFERING STATEMENT FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC HAS BEEN QUALFIED BY THE SEC AND UNTIL THE CANADIAN OFFERING MEMORANDUM HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS. ANY SUCH OFFER MAY BE WITHDRAWN OR REVOKED, WITHOUT OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT OF ANY KIND, AT ANY TIME BEFORE NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE GIVEN AFTER THE DATE OF QUALIFICATION.

THE OFFERING MATERIALS MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE COMPANY, ITS BUSINESS PLAN AND STRATEGY, AND ITS INDUSTRY. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON THE BELIEFS OF, ASSUMPTIONS MADE BY, AND INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT. WHEN USED IN THE OFFERING MATERIALS, THE WORDS “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “EXPECT” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE STATEMENTS REFLECT MANAGEMENT’S CURRENT VIEWS WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE EVENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. INVESTORS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE ON WHICH THEY ARE MADE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO REVISE OR UPDATE THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER SUCH DATE OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.